CRAFT || CRAFT FAIR PAPER FLOWERS

this week, it has been such a treat to embrace that crafting side of myself once again. it feels like ages since I have created anything outside of the kitchen or the blogosphere, so it has been quite refreshing. I've been banging my head against the wall this week trying to get this church event (that I previously mentioned on tuesday) squared away. I'm not sure whose idea it was to put me in charge of things, but I'm afraid they are going to be sorely disappointed come saturday night. yikes. on a lighter note, I'm having a blast with the decorations...take a peek.

remember those paper flowers you used to get from the craft fair growing up? you know the ones. the ones you used to beg your mom for? and she always told you they were super easy to make and that she would make you one when you got home? but nothing would due except that she buy you one right there and then? that's the one. well it's been years since I thought of them, but I'm once again obsessed. and that's what we're decorating with this saturday. except this time I'm taking mom's advice and making them myself--50 of them. 

picture :: me buying 400 sheets of tissue paper at the "craft store" here on island paradise. 

what you'll need ::

8 sheets of tissue paper per flower

ribbon or twine or wire

scissors

step 001 :: line up your 8 pieces of tissue paper. you can either make all of the pieces the same color or I read that if you're going to make them different colors, you should use the 3:3:2 ratio. 

step 002 :: start folding them long-ways in opposite directions so that they resemble an accordion. if the folds don't line up perfectly, it's not a big deal. the beautiful thing about this craft is that if you mess up slightly, not even a trained eye can really tell.

step 003 :: tie your ribbon or twine or wire directly in the center of your accordion. try to get it pretty tight without crinkling your paper. if you're wanting to hang them, I still kept my original ribbon short and then I'll tie more ribbon onto it later when I know just how long I want it.

step 004 :: cut half-circles along the ends of both sides of the accordion. this gives it that petal-ly look. I've seen other cuts, as well--cut to a point, cut diagonally--but I think this one looks the most like a flower.

step 005 :: right before you're ready to hang them, carefully start peeling apart the layers so that you don't get any tears (admittedly, I got carried away and tore mine once or twice). you have the option of making them as fluffy or as demure as you'd like. for the really fluffy ones, simply pull more and more tissue from the base of the flower where you've tied it.

step 006 :: tie the appropriate length of ribbon to the center of your flower (where you have already tied the previous ribbon). we will be hanging ours from little hooks behind a stage, but I think they look lovely hanging from a tree outside during a backyard bbq! wouldn't red, white, and blue be darling for july 4th?

and that's pretty much it. pretty simple, though it has to be if I'm making 50 of them! only 47 more to go, right? if y'all have any crafts that you've just loved making, send me a link! I'm really on a crafty kick right now. 

for more paper flower crafts, check out these and these. so creative!

wishing you a wonderful day! and as always, thanks for following along with me. y'all are the greatest!

love, arielle